The Lagos State Neighbourhood Watch on Wednesday apprehended four suspected armed robbers, who had been terrorizing communities in Oto-Awori area of the state.
The suspects, Akanye Chidozie, Charles Nwozuzu, Ifeanyi Felix and Jude Ugoh, were allegedly rounded up by the community’s security outfit, while ransacking homes in Ajangbadi at about 1.50 am.
The suspects, in addition to the Volkswagen Golf car with the number plate BK121FKJ and filled with assorted vehicle spare parts used for the operation ,were later handed over to the police at the Rapid Response Squad, Alausa, Ikeja.
Mr Musibau Oguns, who led the team that apprehended the men, told the newsmen that the arrest of the suspected robbers was a huge success in the outfit’s efforts to rid the area of criminals.
“For about two years, the people of Oto-Awori have been sleeping with their two eyes open .They can’t just rest or sleep because these criminals keep attacking residents every now and then.
“In fact, there was a particular time the situation got so bad that residents thought all the criminals in the state had relocated to the area.
“These criminals have indeed made Oto-Awori their terror kingdom.
“We are glad that our collaboration with the police, to displace criminals from the area is yielding results. We are glad with this arrest. This is a big plus for our campaign,” Oguns said.
He said men of the security outfit were attracted to the scene by the distress calls from the residents.
“We heard people shouting for help, and we responded immediately. When we got there, we saw them in action and laid ambush for them.
“We saw them removing parts from residents vehicles and watched them carefully moving from houses to houses, wielding iron bars, and robbing people of their money and other belongings.
“Our team made one calculated, determined swoop on them and in the process, dispossessed them of their weapons and arrested them.
“It was a very successful operation, and we thank God for that,” Oguns said.
Mr Adeniyi Ashafa, who represented the Chairman of Oto-Awori LCDA, Mr Bolaji Roberts, at the handing over of the men to the police, said the suspects had also confessed to robbing some high profile residents of the area.
“The people of the LCDA are unrelenting in their war against criminals. We are calling on criminals to stop their nefarious activities now or meet their waterloo like these men,” Roberts advised.